Ā Ā Ā heās unsure of how much time has PASSED since the bullet had torn through his skin. it hadnāt been a TERRIBLE wound ( painful, nonetheless ), through and through and easy to patch up. it had taken a long while for andrea to even BEGIN to trust him, and when she had, they were GOOD together, like a team. but idealistic dreams were too easily shattered in this world. pounding feet and ragged breathsĀ reminiscentĀ of their first meeting saw their last drawing to a DEADLY close. somehow the saviors had found them, a group on a scouting mission. andrea had taken one and griffin two, but it wouldnāt matter if they couldnāt outrun their maker.Ā Ā Ā he sprints behind her, arm beginning to throb as lactic acid found harbor, leaking into his not yet COMPLETELY ( close but not quite there )Ā healed bullet wound. words of encouragement burst from his lips along with carbon dioxide as he fights with his lungs. a bullet EMBEDSĀ itself in the tree next to him as griffin passes it. his head turns, gaze frantically searching for the shooter when itās ripped back in front of him as andrea SCREAMSĀ in surprise. sliding to a haphazard stop, griffin takes AIM immediately at the man holding andrea hostage. Ā Ā ā let. her. go. ā Ā Ā his stance steadies, eyes locked with andreaās.Ā the man tightens his hold on the blonde, and memories flash through griffinās head -- her smile and her laugh that heād managed to pull out of her after nearly a MONTH. his own grip on the pistol turns his knuckles white. Ā Ā ā IāM the one you want. ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā see, iām tryinā to figure which is gonna hurt WORSE. āĀ Ā Ā the new voice sends a chill down griffinās SPINE. he KNOWS what it means, WHO it is. negan. griffinās gaze flicks to the infamous man, though his gun remains aimed on the other holding andrea. unadulterated anger sweeps across his face, twisting his lips into a nasty SNARL. his finger lifts an inch of the trigger, tongue wetting his lips as his jaw tenses. brown eyes drifting back to andrea, itās clear what sheās trying to SAYĀ -- kill him, take the chance while he HAS it. but he CANāT. he shakes his head almost imperceptibly; heās got to get her OUT OF TROUBLE before he takes down negan. if he shoots, the man will SNAP HER NECK. his lips move silently, iām sorry.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā with a chuckle, negan raises his bat, looking between the two.Ā Ā Ā ā oh, i think i know which itās gonna be. āĀ Ā Ā the otherās voice jerks griffin back into focus, and his eyes widen with a large intake of a breath. Ā Ā Ā āĀ DONāT YOU FUCKING DARE -- !!Ā āĀ Ā the man holding andrea shoves her violently to the ground, and griffinās finger squeezes the trigger without thought, sending a bullet straight through his HEAD. an instant later, another bullet buries in lucilleās wood only because someone TACKLED griffin to the ground. he hears andrea scrambling to retaliate, and griffin renders the savior above him unconscious without issue, adrenaline fueling a WILDFIRE. the skirmish only lasts a SECOND before neganās voice effectively stops all motion, leaving griffin helpless despite his aim set on negan.Ā Ā Ā his body stills with horror, heartās frantic beat FROZENĀ in fear. negan standing offset to andrea, whoās on her knees, eyes wild as they bore into griffinās. itās only but a moment to take in before negan BURIES lucilleās barbs into the side of andreaās head. Ā Ā āĀ ANDREA!! āĀ Ā the shout is loud, echoing violently off the trees, leaving the air soaked in GRIEF.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā he didnāt try hard enough.
Ā Ā Ā the pistol drops to the leafy ground as griffin scrambles to andreaās side, eyes dry with RAW pain. hands drink up the blood as he grabs her gently, bringing her CLOSER to his body. his shirt soaks immediately, turning darker as the wet seeps through and onto his SKIN. Ā Ā Ā āĀ iām sorry, fuck. iām so sorry, andrea, please come -- b a Ā c Ā Ā k.Ā ā Ā Ā lucille thumpsĀ to the ground beside him, his body jerking in reaction to the noise and arms constricting further around andreaās LIFELESS form. tears finally push over onto his cheeks as his eyes slide shut and he buries his face into the unmarred side of her neck.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā he should have let her go.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā she shouldnāt have ever stayed.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā he should have told her goodbye.